Preface

Welcome to a new format for fossils--the DMS "Fossil
Forum"! In our second installment,
we are connecting the fossil past with this year's DMS educational outreach program at our
own
clubhouse: The Greenbank Mill!

Today, we
will be exploring our state's Official State Fossil: Belemnites. Found around the
world as the remnants of ancient sea creatures, our local favorite is Belemnitella
americana.

Introduction

Welcome to our
second Fossil Forum!

This month, our
journey takes us into geologic time: the past. We are investigating a swimming
creature, whose fossil remains are easy to recognize: Belemnites. Enjoy!

What exactly
are "belemnites"? Well, as you can see from the comparison pictures above,
they are
and were living sea creatures. As they maintained only one boney structure, the
"rostrum" (or "guard"),
it is the only candidate body part prone to fossilization. While alive, this boney
structure served as a
counterweight to the buoyancy of the creature.

As we see from the cigar-shaped objects at the
top of the page, these leftover bits would litter the
shallow paleosea bottom some 70 million years ago to later become diggable fossils.
They now call
the Mount Laurel Formation their home.

These squidlike Cephalopods combed the sea in
search of food for millions of years back in the
Cretaceous. Today, their descendants, such as the cuttlefish, do the same.
Their modern bone is
used for pet bird care, and in jewelry metal casting. I've done the latter with much
success.

As you can see, the belemnites were here, came
and went, then came back again as fossils for
us to talk about and collect. Though they traveled in large schools and were
prolific, they died out.

We speak of the cigar-shape
of the rostrum "bone", but notice the point at one end. Doesn't it look
aerodynamic, like the point of a rocket booster on the Space Shuttle. There is a
reason for nature's design here.

Yes, you guessed it! The fish swims backwards!
That's right. The finned area that houses the rostrum is
"aquadynamic". More like a boat hull, than a rocket ship, the belemnite's
fins and point act to push it through
the water. And, the tentacles around it's eyes
and head do the swimming, much like the octopus. They
possessed an ink sac and ten
tentacles, as well.

In addition to the biomechanical evidence that I've just
mentioned, today's cuttlefish swims in the same
manner--backwards!

Belemnite (artist's conception)

Belemnite's Cretaceous home
(Graphic from Earth History Resources)

Today's Cuttlefish swimming

Now that we've seen what our
friendly sea creatures look like, we are ready to comb the world for fossils.
We'll
key in on our club's collecting area: Delaware.

Strewn in the fossil sands of time, namely the dredge spoils
of the Chesapeake & Delaware (C & D)
Canal--well,
almost. The simulated
fossil dig you see below is part of one of our club's educational programs
for the Girl
Scouts.
Member Sophie Homsey donated some of her belemnites and other marine fossils
for the
scouts to dig for and keep.

Thanks, Sophie!

Belemnites
in simulated fossil dig

Belemnites in
simulated fossil dig

Belemnites
in simulated fossil dig (close-up)

Belemnites in
simulated fossil dig (close-up)

Belemnite
close-up

Club member Sophie
Homsey hosting fossil dig for the Girl Scouts at one our Educational Programs

From the pictures above, you
can get a general idea of the great fossils finds to be had when looking for
Belemnites. Though no opalized specimens have been known found in Delaware--who
knows, maybe an
opal-forming environment might be found here one day?

I know this is such a short primer
on the living and fossilized remains of our club state's official fossil,
though I hope it
whets your appetite to learn more from digging for yourself on site, and sifting through
the
links below.

Who knew that our local Delaware Cretaceous Belemnites
could be faceted into a fine gemstone? Why,
DMS's own Tom Pankratz did! Tom is a long-time hobbyist faceter who
enjoys a unique challenge. When
picking up a rock, gem, or fossil, Tom thinks, 'Would this material facet
into a gemstone?'

During almost every show 'n tell, he poses the question
to we who are involved in the conversation, thus
piquing our interest. As a result of this particular exchange one club
meeting, Tom surprised us with some
photos of his work: a truly well-faceted Delaware fossil gemstone wonder.
Thanks, Tom!

Article Contributors

I would like to gratefully acknowledge the generous
contributions of our fellow fossil
enthusiasts,
collectors, authors, curators, educators, professionals,
and club members who
made this work possible. Thanks.

About the Author:Ken is current webmaster of the Delaware
Mineralogical Society.He has a diploma in
Jewelry Repair, Fabrication & Stonesetting from the Bowman Technical School,
Lancaster, PA, and worked as jeweler.He has
also studied geology at the University of Delaware.And,
he is currently a member of the Delaware Mineralogical Society and the Franklin-Ogdensburg
Mineralogical Society. E-mail: kencasey98@yahoo.com.

Invitation to Members

Members,

Want to see your name in print? Want to co-author, contribute,
or author a whole Fossil Forum
article? Well, this the forum for you!

And Members, if you have pictures, or a story you would like to
share, please feel free to offer. We'd like to post them for our mutual enjoyment.
Of course, you get full photo and author credit, and a chance to reach other
collectors, hobbyists, and scientists. We only ask that you check your facts, give
credit where it is due, keep it wholesome for our Junior Members watching, and keep on
topic regarding rockhounding.

You don't even have to be experienced in making a webpage. We
can work together to publish your story. A handwritten short story with a Polaroid
will do. If you do fancier, a text document with a digital photo will suit, as well.
Sharing is the groundwork from which we can get your story out there.

Our first Fossil Forum
selection had come from one of our new student members, Jennifer Anné. If you would
like to author a future article, or if you have a suggestion for a future Fossil Forum article, please e-mail me
at: kencasey98@yahoo.com, or tell me at our next meeting.